Dozens along Nashua River protest natural-gas project

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GROTON -- Local opponents of a natural-gas pipeline proposed for towns across Massachusetts gathered at the boat launch along the Nashua River to fulfill their portion of a statewide walk protesting the project, which many believe is unnecessary.

"I'm an abutter to the pipeline and conservation land is behind my property where my children play," said Overlook Drive resident Cheryl Scammel. "I do not want this pipeline. I think the gas will just be liquefied and sold overseas. I'm opposed to the project."

"They went ahead with this project without telling the community," said Raddin Road resident Anne Rath. "And they expect taxpayers to pay most of the money to have it built just so they can send the gas out of the country. But mostly, I don't want to see it go through conservation land. It's all so very upsetting."

Scammel and Rath joined about 40 neighbors and residents Wednesday to take part in a walk that began in the western part of the state and that will end at the Statehouse in Boston.

The walk took the shape of a relay, with people in each town affected by the planned pipeline carrying a petition inside a piece of PVC pipe that is handed off to walkers of succeeding communities.

"It started at the New York border," said organizer Richard Hewitt. "That was the kick-off event on July 6. Then each day, it moved through each town along the route across Massachusetts in relays passing a model pipeline filled with petitions.

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They'd have people sign the petition as they went along."

Kinder-Morgan Energy Partners have proposed running a new 36-inch high-pressure main from Dracut through Groton and beyond to supply area towns and other communities in central Massachusetts with natural gas.

In Groton, the proposed pipeline would run across portions of land owned by the Conservation Commission, Conservation Trust, beneath the Nashua River, over numerous private parcels, and the Groton-Dunstable Regional High School.

Although some residents in the affected towns have come out against the plan on grounds of damage to the environment due to laying the pipeline or the gas being produced by "fracking," others feared for the sanctity of private property.

"What they're doing is ludicrous," said Long Hill Road resident Maria Hars. "There are other alternatives to fracking. The gas produced by fracking destroys the environment."

Since news of the pipeline became public at a May selectmen's meeting, opposition to the project has grown rapidly, with committees being formed and Town Meetings held on the issue.

While most of the opposition has given the appearance of being one-sided, many who have called for more careful consideration remain open-minded that a solution can be found acceptable to all parties.

"Are there alternatives?" asked Selectman Stuart Schulman, who participated in the event Wednesday. "There may be. For instance, I think there are other pipeline companies planning to increase the supply of natural gas to this area. But the approval process for Kinder-Morgan has been going too fast. There hasn't been time to question everyone involved. What we'd like is an opportunity to ask about the costs involved, financially and environmentally. And what about quality of life? All those questions need answering, but there's not enough time to provide answers to everyone's satisfaction."

"This is the biggest infrastructure project in the state since the Big Dig," said Hewitt. "But most legislators didn't even know about it until May. It will cost millions and go through anything. They don't care. They took this terribly destructive environmental route often through conservation space. And it's been done in almost total secrecy.

The event was attended by state Attorney General candidate Maura Healey, who urged residents to stand and fight.

"I couldn't believe some of the stories I was hearing about Kinder-Morgan representatives showing up at people's property and telling them what they will do," Healey said. "It was just staggering. But I think with this tremendous grass-roots activism, the word is getting out there," Healey continued. "In Massachusetts we know how to stand up. We know how to fight."

Also there was local environmental legend Marion Stoddart, who spoke in defense of the Nashua River beneath which the proposed pipeline would run.

Stoddart warned of the unreliability of gas pipelines and if a gas main should leak beneath the river, it would be very difficult to fix and repair the damage to the river.

"I want to keep the Nashua River the natural resource it is today," said Stoddart.

Stoddart had ceremoniously received the petition-filled pipe on the river from representatives of the Pepperell portion of the walk. The pipe was expected to be handed off to Dunstable walkers later in the evening.

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